Visit to Osakis

We went to see grandparents for Dallas' birthday a couple of weekends ago. Everyone was there at least part of the time. Autumn and Becca had fun playing together. Autumn also got a litte braver where Josie is concerned. She did a bit of crying and laughing while haning onto mommy for dear life. Later she was on the floor when Josie came around the corner and she laid very still and held her breath while Josie snuffled her and walked on her. It was funny. Afterwards she giggled and came to hug my legs as if to say "see, mommy, I was brave". The weather was beautiful so we played outside quite a bit.

Holy Cow!!!!!

Ya'll will never believe what I saw! I couldn't believe what I saw, I also couldn't believe I had my camera handy! I was driving down a road that goes through a nature preserve and along side the Minnesota river behind our apartment complex. It's a road I usually enjoy driving in all weather beause it's so senic and peaceful. This time, however, I was in a bit of a hurry because I was coming back from observing a student at his daycare way up in another suburb about 45 minutes north of Farmington. I was a bit frustrated by the driver in front of me who had slowed down to a crawl. I saw her sticking her head out of her window and couldn't figure out what she was looking at. Well then I passed the spot and saw 2 bald eagles! I've never even seen one outside of a zoo and here were two sitting in the trees as calm as you please. I pulled over and got out and they just sat there, so I grabbed the camera and snapped a couple of shots. I was totally overcome. It reall was amazing to see them sitting in the trees. I know, I know they are birds that are making a comeback and it is more and more common to see them but still......... Anyway, thought I'd finally share these since its been probably a month or so since I took the pictures.

My Wiggly Guitar

See, I like to play the guitar just like Daddy, but if you ask me, mine is much cooler. It makes funny noises and sings. Of course Daddy's sounds funny when I drop things into the hole, isn't that what holes are for, to put things into?

I Touched a Shark

Ok, it wasn't really a shark they were sleeping, Shhhhhh! But I touched a manta ray. They are soft and leathery. In the pictures you can see me playign in the water and when the ray swam by mommy's hair got in the way but you can see my hand. I giggled and splashed. I like going to see the fisssss.

Autumn had a blast at the aquarium, she did play lots in the water and everytime we saw a fish (which as you can imagine, was about every second or so) she would point and squeal and say "fisss" She loved the tunnel where you stand on a moving sidewalk and the fish swim over your head, I thought her head might fall off backwards.

See the octopus? I'm not scared, but it's WAY bigger than me! Shhhhh, I'm sneaking up from behind to tickle it!

Spikey Hat

Autumn's friends daddy was in Indonesia for almost a month visiting family and friends (he's originally from there). He brought her back a hat that has her name on it. She likes to wear it and to play with it. She thinks it's funny when her own daddy wears it.

Reading Nook

We set up Autumn's travel bed as a 'reading nook' and she spends lots of time in there cuddled up with Pooh reading outloud to us.

Piano Princess

Here are a few pictures of Autumn playing the piano and a clip too.

Mommy's Little Helper

Isn't it funny how little kids think they are helping when they are doing very much the opposite? (well ok, it's not usually funny at the time but later it is). Autumn was "helping" me with the laundry. I washed a load of about 7 bath and hand towels. I was talking to Kurt while folding laundry and after I finally realized that I'd folded probably about a dozen or more towels I watched to see what was happening. As I folded a towel and put it on the stack Autumn was very industriously unfolding them and putting them back in the basket. When I let her know I was onto her game she laughed and laughed, she laughed so hard that she fell down. Well I finally got the towels folded and put away so she started to fill my basket with placemats from the drawer. What you don't see in the video clip is that when she finally got the drawer emptied she climbed inside. She is very into "in" and climbs into anything she can manage to get into, which causes a whole new set of problems. :) Later I tried to put the placemats back in the drawer and she took them out as fast as I put them back in. We played this game for almost 20 minutes without her getting the least bit frustrated with me. Of all the toys we've got for her, the laundry is one of her favorites!

Flower Girl?

At the wedding we were at this past weekend there were two very cute little flower girls. At the reception another little girl was dropping flower petals behind her while walking around and Autumn went behind her picking them up and then dropping them again. One of Kurt's relatives gave us some petals to take home for Autumn to play with (they were silk petals). So Autumn has been having fun filling her bowl and then dropping the petals out. She also likes to stand or sit while mom and dad drop petals on her head like a rain shower. She giggles and laughs and gets all excited and askes for more. She also likes to throw them up in the air herself. What a little imp!

Family Wedding

We went to the wedding of one of Kurt's cousins this past weekend in St Cloud. There was a lot of going back and forth as to whether or not we were even going to make it as it was snowing and very windy. Yes you read that right, SNOWING!!!!! Some parts of Minnesota got upwards of 2 feet. We just had powdered sugar coating our lawn. But when we got up to St Cloud there was a good 6 inches on the ground. Unbelievable! We had a nice spring weekend, how is everyone else's winter going?

I digress, Autumn had lots of fun dancing with her grandma and the other little girls that were there.

Independence

I believe the shirt says it all!

Visit from Amanda

Amanda came to visit and she and Autumn had a great time playing with our new barn. Autumn really enjoys the growling cow and roaring horse, the hissing pig and the tool bench that makes sawing and hammering noises.

Finger Food

Autum went to a friend's birthday party. She really enjoyed the cake and ice cream. She also enjoyed going up and down and up and down and up and down the stairs. By the time her friend opened presents she was tired and could be found hiding in a small cupboard.

Did you know that cottage cheese and applesauce are finger foods?

Playing Outside

Favorite Aunt Jane gave me a slide to bring home. I really like to play on it but right after Daddy put it up it snowed! That was ok because I like to play in the snow too but really, snow? I also like to play with cars, they are lots of fun and go down the slide well, so do balls for that matter. This door is hard to get through, Mommy put stools up for me but I don't use them, this is much more fun.